Northern Michigan University’s John Kerr, right, looks to work his way around a defender during a game earlier this season played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — After making up several earlier deficits, the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team couldn’t complete one last comeback as Grand Valley State scored a 79-67 victory at the Berry Events Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats (8-9, 4-6 GLIAC) dug themselves an early hole, falling behind 14-0 barely four minutes into the game before coming all the way back to tie it 27-27 with 5:40 left in the first half on a John Kerr jump shot.

The teams traded the lead the rest of the half, neither team getting more than a two-point advantage, and were tied 38-38 at intermission.

The Lakers (12-3, 6-2) did the same thing to start the second half as they did the first, outscoring NMU 10-2 in the first three minutes to re-establish a 48-40 bulge.

But even more quickly than GVSU grabbed that lead, Northern took it away. Over the following 2:07, NMU not only erased the deficit, but took a 49-48 lead on Justin Brookens’ jumper with 14:46 left.

The teams again traded the lead for about six minutes, NMU getting its biggest edge at 56-53 on a pair of Justin Kuehl free throws with 10:29 to go.

Northern’s offense then went cold for about five minutes and Grand Valley went on another 14-0 run to take the lead for good, going up 67-56 with 5:39 remaining.

The Wildcats put together one final comeback, getting within 71-67 with 1:21 to go on a Brookens layup, but they would get no closer as the Lakers scored the final eight points.

Brookens came off the bench to lead NMU scorers with 17 points as he hit three 3-pointers. He also contributed four rebounds and shared top assist honors with four.

Kerr was right with his teammate, scoring 16 points, grabbing five rebounds and blocking a shot.

Teammate Sam Schultz contributed 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Max Bjorklund shared assist honors with four while scoring nine points.

GVSU’s Jake Van Tubbergen led all scorers with 23 points while pulling down 11 rebounds, sharing the game rebounding honor with teammate Christian Negron.

This marked the halfway point of the Wildcats’ current four-game homestand. NMU hosts Northwood at 1:15 p.m. Saturday before taking on Upper Peninsula rival Michigan Tech at 7:45 p.m. next Monday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.